BOZEMAN - Montana State University entomologist Florence Dunkel has won the 2012 Distinguished Achievement Award in Teaching from the Entomological Society of America. She will receive the award during the organization's 60th annual meeting to be held Nov. 11-14 in Knoxville, Tenn.

Dunkel has developed 10 courses at MSU, including two core courses, "The Issues of Insects and Human Societies" and "Health, Poverty, Agriculture: Concepts and Action Research." Locally known for the annual "bug buffets" she organizes on campus, she also teaches entomology with foreign language faculty in service-learning courses. She links middle school students, teachers and the local community with nearby scientists to conduct local research.

Dunkel and her co-investigators have involved 131 undergraduate and graduate students in course components conducted in Mali, and an estimated 3,000 students in U.S. components.